---
Sekhmet opened the door just enough and stepped into the corridor.
The hallway was dim. The air was cooler. The house fell asleep.
He moved like a shadow.
Bat Bat moved like an excited shadow wearing boots.
Sekhmet headed toward the guest wing.
The twins' room was dark, but he could sense them even before he reached the door. Their presence was sharper now, not because they were loud, but because their blood resonance had changed.
True vampires did not feel like normal people. They felt like still water that could become a wave.
Sekhmet knocked once. Inside, there was a brief pause. Then a quiet voice.
"Enter," Vera said.
Sekhmet opened the door.
The twins were awake.
Both of them sat on the bed, posture straight, clothing simple, hair loose. Their red eyes reflected faint light in a way that was not human.
